They are actually the same layout as our house (though ours is a much smaller & humbler house). We really like the floor plan. With our main living area on the middle floor, we usually only have one flight to walk up/down when we need to do something (like answer the door, or go to a bedroom).

And, having the third bedroom on the ground floor makes it a great guest suite and/or home office situation, which is what we wanted.

Plus, with our livingroom in the front of the house above the garage, we still have our "eyes on the street" (which is a criticism, regarding safety, that we've heard about some garage houses with their main living spaces in the rear).

Anyway, sure, we'd have more living space without our garage, but I guess when you'd rather have a house with a private garage there are some compromises to make. But to us those compromises are totally worth it.